DCL Bus Transfer from Port to WDW

[Twilight Terror]

We are either renting down to the port, or using a private transfer service, as we have an early PAT that we want to make use of. However, on the return we are going to use the DCL transfer bus, go back to WDW and sort out car hire from there (either Alamo, or along Hotel Boulevard), as previously we have not been able to pick up the car, or car type we had requested as options are limited.

I have a few questions about using the bus transfer system:

1. I know that the DCL buses pick up from several resorts before heading to the port. Is this also the case when heading back to WDW, do they drop off at several locations?
2. Is there any way to find out which resorts are lumped together on each bus route?
3. Can you catch a bus that is going to a resort that you don't have a reservation for? Time will be at a premium for us, so I was just wondering if we could catch the SSR bus (even if not staying there) so family can wait at the hotel, whilst driver walks to Springs to get the car. Then they can come back, collect us, do Walmart shopping, before then heading to our correct hotel?

Thanks!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We are either renting down to the port, or using a private transfer service, as we have an early PAT that we want to make use of. However, on the return we are going to use the DCL transfer bus, go back to WDW and sort out car hire from there (either Alamo, or along Hotel Boulevard), as previously we have not been able to pick up the car, or car type we had requested as options are limited.

I have a few questions about using the bus transfer system:

1. I know that the DCL buses pick up from several resorts before heading to the port. Is this also the case when heading back to WDW, do they drop off at several locations?
2. Is there any way to find out which resorts are lumped together on each bus route?
3. Can you catch a bus that is going to a resort that you don't have a reservation for? Time will be at a premium for us, so I was just wondering if we could catch the SSR bus (even if not staying there) so family can wait at the hotel, whilst driver walks to Springs to get the car. Then they can come back, collect us, do Walmart shopping, before then heading to our correct hotel?

Thanks!

In order to use the DCL transfers to WDW, you must have a reservation for a specific resort. There's no way of knowing ahead of time what resorts each bus will go to. They set up the buses based on how many people are going to what resort, so that the buses are filled efficiently.

Yes, they drop off at (typically) up to 3 resorts. But could drop off at just one, if enough people get off the ship that are going to that same resort at the same time so that it fills the bus.

 

[Twilight Terror]

In order to use the DCL transfers to WDW, you must have a reservation for a specific resort. There's no way of knowing ahead of time what resorts each bus will go to. They set up the buses based on how many people are going to what resort, so that the buses are filled efficiently.

Our reservation is for AKV, so there's no way we could catch the SSR bus then? Never mind, best write off the day as a quiet/pool day.

Yes, they drop off at (typically) up to 3 resorts. But could drop off at just one, if enough people get off the ship that are going to that same resort at the same time so that it fills the bus.

Thanks for that. I wasn't sure if they had a specific routes, although I presume they link like resorts where possible, i.e. GF, Poly, CT and BLT would be on one byus if guests numbers allowed.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Our reservation is for AKV, so there's no way we could catch the SSR bus then? Never mind, best write off the day as a quiet/pool day.



Thanks for that. I wasn't sure if they had a specific routes, although I presume they link like resorts where possible, i.e. GF, Poly, CT and BLT would be on one byus if guests numbers allowed.

The bus we wound up on went to Pop Century, Beach Club, All Star Sports, All Star Music (that's us). The silly thing was - they didn't have us (or an All Star Music stop) scheduled that day. So they put us on that bus. Took us an hour and a half to get from Port Canaveral to All Star Music.

Don't know what stop(s) it made after us - yes, there were still people on the bus.

 

[Twilight Terror]

The bus we wound up on went to Pop Century, Beach Club, All Star Sports, All Star Music (that's us). The silly thing was - they didn't have us (or an All Star Music stop) scheduled that day. So they put us on that bus. Took us an hour and a half to get from Port Canaveral to All Star Music.

Don't know what stop(s) it made after us - yes, there were still people on the bus.

Wow, sounds like a busy bus! I guess we will play it by ear then. If we were lucky and AKV and SSR were on the same bus heading to WDW, could we sneak off early/late?

 

[elvispursley]

When we stayed at WDW last year we ended up taking DCL transport up to MCO and renting our car there and driving back to our WDW resort. We hit the parks before noon so wouldn't necessarily have to write off the whole day if you wanted to head up to MCO and get your car there. The bust loaded super quick and we walked right across the street to the car rental place, picked up the car (we had Hertz Gold club where all we had to do was pick up the keys and go). Then we didn't have to rely on using ME to head back to MCO and pick-up all over the place. We could return when we wanted to.

 

[Twilight Terror]

When we stayed at WDW last year we ended up taking DCL transport up to MCO and renting our car there and driving back to our WDW resort. We hit the parks before noon so wouldn't necessarily have to write off the whole day if you wanted to head up to MCO and get your car there. The bust loaded super quick and we walked right across the street to the car rental place, picked up the car (we had Hertz Gold club where all we had to do was pick up the keys and go). Then we didn't have to rely on using ME to head back to MCO and pick-up all over the place. We could return when we wanted to.

We had contemplated that, but at the moment, for some unknown reason, car rentals for Hotel Boulevard/Car Care Centre pick-up/MCO drop-off are cheaper than an MCO pick-up/MCO drop-off rental! So we will see how that pans out. If things change, then we will do the MCO bus, rent and head back to resort.

 

[elvispursley]

Good luck and hope it all works out for you guys!

 

[Twilight Terror]

Good luck and hope it all works out for you guys!

Thanks! In a way, I hope the MCO/MCO becomes cheaper, because it seems less hassle. Everyone on the MCO bus is going to MCO, so no driving around to various locations before arriving at ours, and we can the car and be on the way without having to worry about navigating resort to Springs/Alamo pick up to get to the car! *fingers crossed*

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks! In a way, I hope the MCO/MCO becomes cheaper, because it seems less hassle. Everyone on the MCO bus is going to MCO, so no driving around to various locations before arriving at ours, and we can the car and be on the way without having to worry about navigating resort to Springs/Alamo pick up to get to the car! *fingers crossed*

Well, actually, there are two stops at MCO.

 

[soniam]

They had both Animal Kingdom lodges sharing a bus in August. Those were the only hotels the bus dropped at. It did Kidani first then Jambo. Unfortunately, we were one of the last buses to leave the port. We actually left 10 minutes late We were waiting on 1 family for over 45 minutes. Everyone else either had early seating or just came to the bus early. I guess this family had 2nd seating or was just running late. It was very annoying, but we just passed the time relaxing, reading, and catching up on podcasts. Unfortunately, I really had to go to the bathroom by the time we got to Jambo though. Didn't feel like using the one on the bus.

 

[bumbershoot]

Never mind, best write off the day as a quiet/pool day.

You'll be getting to wdw property by, like, 10 or 11. No reason to write off the whole day!

Get to the resort, stash bags, have a rental set up at the car care center. Call them an hour or more before you need their shuttle (so call them as you get off the dcl bus), get picked up, get the car, go shopping, get back by...1? 2? That's a LOT of day and fun left for you.

If we were lucky and AKV and SSR were on the same bus heading to WDW, could we sneak off early/late?

Only if you had NO bags. Because the driver isn't going to unload your bags to get off early. And then what will you do with the bags at a resort that isn't yours?

Bags don't go separately on the way to the resort like they do when going to the ship. You collect them in the terminal and they are put under the bus and you deal with them after you get off the bus. Making sure you know that.

We had contemplated that, but at the moment, for some unknown reason, car rentals for Hotel Boulevard/Car Care Centre pick-up/MCO drop-off are cheaper than an MCO pick-up/MCO drop-off rental! So we will see how that pans out. If things change, then we will do the MCO bus, rent and head back to resort.

What about renting from Alamo in canaveral? Why the mco stop?

 

[Twilight Terror]

You'll be getting to wdw property by, like, 10 or 11. No reason to write off the whole day!

Get to the resort, stash bags, have a rental set up at the car care center. Call them an hour or more before you need their shuttle (so call them as you get off the dcl bus), get picked up, get the car, go shopping, get back by...1? 2? That's a LOT of day and fun left for you.

Because chances are we will be doing a Hotel Boulevard pick up for car rental, so by the time we hot foot it on a bus over to Springs, then walk to appropriate site for the car, it's going to add more time to the process.

Only if you had NO bags. Because the driver isn't going to unload your bags to get off early. And then what will you do with the bags at a resort that isn't yours?

Bags don't go separately on the way to the resort like they do when going to the ship. You collect them in the terminal and they are put under the bus and you deal with them after you get off the bus. Making sure you know that.

Yep, know that because we are doing walk off for a start. Plus customs, quarantine and immigration. As previously mentioned, family wait with bags, driver goes to get car, comes back, gets us on we go to right location.

What about renting from Alamo in canaveral? Why the mco stop?

Previously done car rental at Port Canaveral with no luck on hired car or suitable car. Had to drive back to Orlando and exchange it straight away. Alamo is only a possibility. Going to MCO may result in cheaper car hire than Hotel Boulevard/Car Care Centre.

 

[Mil leech]

If time is the priority. What about the driver gets off on whatever the first stop is on the AKL bus and gets an Uber to the designated rental car location and the rest of the party goes on to AKL and gets checked in and the luggage up to the room. The driver would probably be back by the time they get up there.

 

[bumbershoot]

Because chances are we will be doing a Hotel Boulevard pick up for car rental, so by the time we hot foot it on a bus over to Springs, then walk to appropriate site for the car, it's going to add more time to the process.


Yep, know that because we are doing walk off for a start. Plus customs, quarantine and immigration. As previously mentioned, family wait with bags, driver goes to get car, comes back, gets us on we go to right location.


Previously done car rental at Port Canaveral with no luck on hired car or suitable car. Had to drive back to Orlando and exchange it straight away. Alamo is only a possibility. Going to MCO may result in cheaper car hire than Hotel Boulevard/Car Care Centre.

I don't feel it would add more time to the process. Going to DS vs getting to your resort and having Alamo/national pick you up and take you to ccc are going to be around the same timeframe.


Glad you know. Many don't.


Have you rented through Alamo-national-enterprise at canaveral? They have a huge facility now. I can't imagine it would be so unsuitable. I can't imagine that some small location at Disney springs will have more.

 

[dcassetta]

Well, actually, there are two stops at MCO.

That has not been my experience. Bus parked on the B side lower level and everyone got off. The driver gave directions for how to access the A side.

If time is the priority. What about the driver gets off on whatever the first stop is on the AKL bus and gets an Uber to the designated rental car location and the rest of the party goes on to AKL and gets checked in and the luggage up to the room. The driver would probably be back by the time they get up there.

Great idea